Deedpoll

[lorna56]

Have just been on the gov.website to change my name by deedpoll and download the form. Does anyone know how I can get more original copies to send to financial institutions, utility companies etc to change my records? Other paying sites offer to send a number of originals (at a price). Do I just print off more copies and get them all signed my a solicitor? Again at a price. Would it actually be cheaper to go to the paying sites. They charge about £13 plus £1 for copies.
Thanks.

[boxtops]

Surely it will give you this information on the website, lorna? If it's anything like death or marriage certificates, you have to pay for authenticated copies anyway - photocopies don't count.

[daffy654]

I changed my son's surname at a paying site and paid a little extra for 10 copies, I then had to get my other half's boss to witness them for me before they were legally binding.

[lorna56]

Could not find any info on the government website. The fee paying sites were much more helpful and even gave a phone number so I think I will go with one of those even though an article I read condemned these as a con ! Thanks for your replies.

[namechangeexpert]

Firstly, the article, to which you refer, was poorly researched. A 'deed poll' is a legal contract. Specialist deed poll websites (theukdeedpolloffice.co.uk, ukdps.co.uk, thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk, official-deedpolls.co.uk etc) charge for providing legal documents and associated legal advice. Solicitors also charge for the same, yet the article doesn't suggest they are conning anyone, and ironically solicitors charge up to £300 when deed poll websites charge between £9 to £33.

The 'free form' that you can download from the courts website is a deed poll in a form format i.e. a legal document made into a form. It's intended to be enrolled (registered) with the Royals Courts of Justice, the total cost of which is £102.

It is not made clear on the courts website that enrolling a deed poll is entirely optional, as has always been the case.

So if you just want to use a new name legally i.e. on your passport, driving licence etc, then all you need is a standard un-enrolled deed poll (the kind supplied by deed poll websites and solicitors).

N.B. the above is not 'hearsay', I've worked in the industry for over 5 years.

[namechangeexpert]

Re: original question. Copies can be made of a deed poll in two ways.

1.) Print multiple copies of the electronic deed poll (original computer file) and execute (sign, date and witness) each one individually.

2.) Print and execute a single copy, and then have 'certified photocopies' produced. A certified photocopy is simply a photocopy that is marked as a 'true copy of the original'. If you purchase your deed poll through an online specialist then they would be able to produce certified copies, or any solicitor would be able to do the same.